Galway hospital turns away suicidal boy (12)

The mother of a suicidal 12-year-old boy, who had self-harmed, was told to ‘ring the guards’ for help because the Galway mental health unit for children was full.

The shocking case of the ‘ignored’ boy was raised at this week’s regional health forum west, where the HSE was slammed for its referrals policy for at-risk children who present with suicidal ideation.

It was claimed at the meeting that the mother had attempted to get the boy into the care of CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) at University Hospital Galway, but it was full.

The mother was told by the HSE that she could bring the boy to the Emergency Department, or else to “ring the guards”.

When she rang the Gardaí, she was told there was nothing they could do, the meeting heard. Eventually, the child – from Clare – was admitted to an adult psychiatric unit in Limerick.

The following day, the mother was told to collect the child from Limerick but she refused until a bed came available in the dedicated children unit in Galway.

Three days after the self-harm episode, the child was admitted to CAMHS in Galway, where he was treated as an inpatient for over six days.

The case was highlighted by Clare county councillor, Ann Norton, who was contacted by the parents of the child.

“I just couldn’t believe how they were treated. This was so serious. The child was obviously self-harming and in a serious distressed state. But the mother was told that he was just ‘being bold’. They were told that CAMHS in Galway was full and that they should care for him at home.

“I was shocked. They had to ring the guards. And when they finally did get a bed it was in the adult psychiatric unit. The HSE said that the child would be taken into foster care if the mother wasn’t willing to look after him.”

For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune